Although he was a great warrior who accompanied Hongi on several of his southern expeditions, including the great battle of Te-Ika-a-Ranginui in1825, Rawiri (David) Taiwhanga of Ngati Tautahi, became the first high ranking Maori to convert to Christianity and also became a farmer in the European way in Kaikohe. In the words of one of his contemporaries: “Heke was a man of many thoughts.” Cunning in war, courageous and resourceful, Hone Heke was perhaps the last of the great Ngapuhi fighting chiefs.Īnother man of the Kaikohe area has earned a place in history for a different reason. On 9th Janurary Heke with about 60 men joined forces with Kawiti at Ruapekapeka pa. However, in early Janurary 1846, after eluding Taonui, who had been detailed to watch him and report his movements, Heke slipped out of his pa at Tautoro and travelled overland to Waiomio. Wounded in skirmishing at Pukenui, Heke had retired to Tautoro to recover and had taken part in defence of Ohaeawai pa. The Ngpuhi hap (sub-tribes) of western and northern Bay of Islands include: Ngi Twake, of Tauwhara marae Ngti Hineira Parawhenua, of Parawhenua, Rwhitiroa (Te Ahuahu), and Tauwhara marae Ngti Kawa, of Oromhoe marae, Te Tii Waitangi lower marae, Waitangi National upper marae Ngti Kiriahi of. Colonel Despard’s Maori troops followed, but after the peace efforts of Richard Davis the only action they took was to burn Heke’s pa, at that time unoccupied. There was no standard list of hap, even for the Rarawa tribe. In July 1845 the undefeated defenders of Ohaeawai pa retired in an orderly fashion to Kaikohe. They knew that certain hap were Rarawa hap, certain others Ngpuhi hap, and so on. During the 1840’s both Henry Williams and Rev R Burrows visited him there, attempting unsuccessfully to persuade him of the errors of his ways. Unlike Hongi who chose to make his home in various different locations at Waimate and Whangaroa as well as Kaikohe, Hone Keke’s home territory was in the Kaikohe area. In addition his mana included the Tautoro district, at one time known as Hikurangi, and Ohaeawai (Taiamai). His influence extended over Te Ahu Ahu, Waimate, Pakaraka, Oromahoe, Kaikohe, and Te Tii, Waitangi. Similarly, Hone Heke was of the Kaikohe district. Date of Appointment Name of Assessor or Probationer, as Salary. After his death in Whangaroa in 1828 his bones were taken by his warriors to his pa Pakinga (Kaikohe) and then carried to the burial place of his ancestors at Wharepaepae, two miles south of Kaikohe. Hongi Hika was born in Kaikohe and was a leading chief of one of the principal hapu there, Te Uri-O-Hau. The busy trade in muskets and powder in the north had given Hongi and his men a lethal advantage in their expeditions south. Hongi was well known to the missionaries, who recorded with regret many occasions when Hongi’s war parties were mustering to exact revenge on southern tribes. The war chiefs, Hongi Hika and Hone Heke whose homes were at Kaikohe were exceptions.
0 kommentar(er)
